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The early season turnover ratio is impressive, but it's only a two-game sample.

For University of Memphis’ Jeremiah Martin, there is tangible evidence — beyond the 14 assists and three turnovers — to indicate he intends on keeping his grip on the starting point guard position.

Martin, a sophomore, will make this third start of the season — and the eighth of his career — when the Tigers (2-0) play host to Savannah State (1-2) in an 11 a.m. tipoff at FedExForum.

Martin’s ability to run the team has been apparent during a week in which the U of M defeated the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Milwaukee.

Against UTRGV, Martin scored a career-high 13 points. Against Milwaukee, he dished out eight assists with no turnovers and played defense like his coach, Tubby Smith, wants it to matter and how Martin was taught in high school. The loudest ovation of the night came when Martin sent a Jeremiah Bell corner 3-pointer several rows deep into the crowd.

“He didn’t make many mistakes,” Smith said of Martin’s outing in a 68-54 victory over Milwaukee Wednesday night. “He took a couple of shots (he shouldn’t have) early in the shot clock. He’s still young and still understanding the flow of the game.

“But I like the way he’s getting us into our offense. He’s really defending and covering up for others and understanding our defensive system. That’s a real positive.”

Martin’s emphatic block midway through the second half preceded a strong drive to the rim for a layup and a 51-41 lead when Milwaukee was rallying.

Through two games, Martin, a left-handed shooter, is averaging 9.5 points and 7 assists. He also has seven steals and three blocks.

“He’s been outstanding,” Smith said. “He’s shooting 64 percent from the floor ... he has 14 assists and only three turnovers. He has seven steals. So he’s playing extremely well.”

Smith repeatedly responded during preseason workouts that if the Tigers were starting the season, Martin would be his point guard. He was expected to have the inside track based on his defensive energy, but there were questions about his ability to knock down the open outside shots and run a team.

He’s 9 of 14 shooting in two games and has earned the respect of his teammates in how he’s running the show.

Smith said Martin impressed him during the preseason with his “willingness to do anything we asked him to do and his willingness to be a student of the game.”

“He was always asking questions,” Smith said. “In talking to his high school coach (Faragi Phillips), he said (Martin) was the reason they were able to win championships at Mitchell High School. He understands the sacrifices you have to make in order for the team to be successful, probably better than anyone else on the team.”

Martin said he gained confidence from appearing in 29 games a year ago, including the five starts. He averaged 2.7 points and 1.2 assists in 13 minutes per game.

And despite his emergence as more of a scorer through two games, he said he’s OK with being known as a defender first.

“When you play defense, offense comes,” Martin said. “Defense is all about heart and effort. It doesn’t have (off nights). That’s why I hang my hat on defense.”

With a team in his first year that is lacking depth and experience, Smith said the Tigers may have to win games by playing superior defense.

“We are going to have to be good,” he said. “And we can be very good. We have length and we have athleticism.

“It starts with Jeremiah. He had an unbelievable line (against Milwaukee) — eight assists no turnovers, three blocks and three steals. It was just a tremendous effort by him.”

Charity begins at the stripe

You may have noticed the Tigers are having trouble at the free throw line, including 10 misses in 12 tries against Milwaukee. So columnist Geoff Calkins stepped to the stripe to see if he could do better, vowing to donate $10 to the Mid-South Food Bank for every miss. Go to commercialappeal.com and our digital apps to watch the video — and then take the challenge yourself. Post your video on social media, using the hashtag #charitystripechallenge.